During the coronavirus pandemic, Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bandhu) has distributed food supplies to 2,390 hijra (transgender) and gender diverse people in 28 districts of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions.
With the financial support of German doctors and the management team of icddr,b, Bandhu has finished a weeklong activity of providing food support on Wednesday.
They started distributing the relief on June 25 while maintaining the Health & Hygiene policy of the government, said a press release published by Bandhu.
A total of 2,390 hijras and gender diverse people were given food packages containing 12 kilograms of rice, four kilograms of potatoes, two kilogram red lentils, two litres of oil, two kilogram salt, and two kilogram onions.
Hijra and gender diverse populations are neglected, deprived and socially excluded in Bangladesh. Many of them have become jobless during this Covid-19 pandemic, some are unable to earn from their traditional occupations.
In this situation, arranging food for mere survival has become a major challenge for them. Bandhu and icddr,b will try to continue this initiative in near future, said the press release.
icddr,b and Bandhu have also been implementing HIV prevention services in several districts of Bangladesh.
Most transgender people in Bangladesh go store to store in their area and ask for money. Some work as sex workers and some collect money by blessing newborns.
As their regular income sources have been curtailed due to the three months long lockdown to curb Covid-19, they can no longer provide for themselves, especially in a society where they face discrimination at every step.
Since the onset of coronavirus in the country in March, daily wage earners and people with limited income are struggling to manage even the basic necessities.
According to a survey conducted by Brac the average family income loss between March and May stood around 74%.
At present 100.22 million people face high risk of economic and health vulnerabilities.